The other day it rained. And it rained hard and long. Two days later I went out on my bike to do my little 12 mile circuit and I noticed a gorgeous tree. It was large and well shaped, and covered with beautiful bright pink flowers. It was particularly striking because it stood out in the stark environment of this area of the Yucatan. Being so taken by its beauty I wanted to take a photo to share with others, and to remember myself. So I told myself that the next day I would be sure to take my camera with me on my ride.

But the next day I forgot and the next day I was out of town and it wasn't until the third day that I remembered, took my camera and headed out to capture the beauty. However, when I came to the tree it had changed. The flowers had fallen off and it was now as stark and bare as anything around it. I had lost the chance to take the grand photo and was left with this one instead...

And as I thought about that I thought about life and the opportunities we have and our response to those opportunities. I thought about how time-sensitive some of those opportunities are--about how if we do not take advantage of them at the moment they are in front of us, we may never be able to at all.


Long ago I made a vow not to live life with a lot of "if onlys"... What I mean is not that I should try everything there is to try, because there are plenty of things that should not be done and which if done will inevitably lead to serious problems. But what I mean is to try to live life in such a way that I say "Yes" to positive opportunities when they present themselves. What I mean is that at the end of life I do not want to have to look back on a long list of things I could have done, doors I could have walked through, experiences I could have had--and that would have been positive--but that I failed to do or try.

Long ago I heard a story of a mother who was preparing supper when her young daughter came in and said, excitedly, "Mommy, come out and look at the beautiful sunset with me!" Busy with the food the mother replied, "I will in a minute, but first you go and wash up for supper." Slowly the daughter walked obediently to the bathroom and emerged just moments later, with clean hands. Then, after finishing the final details of the meal, the mother took her hand and walked out--only to see the faded tail end of the beauty that had been the sunset. The moment was missed... I do not want to miss the moments!

Last week I was at an evening chapel service in the seminary when someone came in and said that there was a lunar eclipse in process. I hurried outside, saw it was true, and then ran back to the house where Nancy was. I shouted at her to come outside, which she did, and together we watched as the shadowed moon grew bigger and bigger. It was beautiful. Had I waited long to tell her what was happening, she would have missed it and watching it together would not have happened. That special moment was not missed.

I don't know if the tree I saw in all its glory will bloom again while I am here. I doubt it. But if it does I will most assuredly take a photo right away! I missed that one, and may never have a second chance. But I want that to be the exception, not the rule...I want to say "Yes" to the opportunities God places in my way, not "No" and, perhaps even more importantly, not "Later". I want to remember that sunsets fade and trees lose their blossoms. I want to remember the words of Ecclesiastes 3, There is a time for everything under heaven. I think that is part of God's plan for each of us--part of making the most of the days, the hours and the minutes we have been given on this earth. I think that is at least one piece of what the Adventure of Living is all about...